Ethanol's environmental damage

November 21, 2014

Charlie Riedel/AP

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Des Moines Waterworks CEO and general manager Bill Stowe talks about dealing with high nitrate levels in the city's water supply in Des Moines. A mandate to increase ethanol production has resulted in millions of acres of new row crops being planted, in some cases on highly erodible land, helping to increase nitrate pollution in municipal water supplies like Des Moines.

Charlie Riedel/AP

20of21

Des Moines Waterworks CEO and general manager Bill Stowe talks about dealing with high nitrate levels in the city's water supply in Des Moines. A mandate to increase ethanol production has resulted in millions of acres of new row crops being planted, in some cases on highly erodible land, helping to increase nitrate pollution in municipal water supplies like Des Moines.